Improving Diabetes Self-Management and Fasting Blood Glucose through Text Messaging

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may be managed by using current evidence-based practices. No consistent process was used at the project site for successful diabetes self-care, so an evidence based solution was sought. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if or to what degree the translation of Chai's research using the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors with text messaging would impact fasting blood glucose levels (FBGLs) when compared to current practice among adults with type 2 diabetes. The project was implemented in a primary care clinic in urban California over four weeks. Dorothea Orem’s self-care theory and Kurt Lewin's change theory provided the theoretical underpinnings for the project. Data on FBGLs were collected from the electronic health record at baseline and post-implementation. The total sample size was n = 24. A paired t-test showed a statistically and clinically significant improvement in patients’ FBGL from baseline (M = 153.42, SD = 25.26) to post-implementation (M = 143.67, SD = 23.89), t (23) = 4.65, p = .001. Based on the results, translating Chai’s research on disseminating the ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors handouts through text messaging may result in improved FBGLs. It is recommended that the intervention is used in future primary care practice at the project site and that the project is replicated in several primary care offices for at least 12 weeks so that data on HbA1c can be collected.